Aarrgh! Holiday for 2 adults and 13 yo girl that any of us will actually ENJOY?

[HmmmIwonder]

We all want different things. I want seaside, peace, reading, no cooking. He wants countryside, foodie treats, coffee shops. She wants shops and computer access so she can pretend she's not actually on holiday with us at all.
Separate holidays?

I have a nearly teen and a seven year old. Last year we went to Center Parcs in Holland for the first time. I am the first to put my hand up and say that 'holiday camp stylee' holidays are not my thing at all, but this was so different. It was in the countryside, we stayed in a brick lodge type thing which was right on a lake and ducks came up to the door. It also had a sauna in it. I think there is wi fi. Lots of sporting things to do, squash, tennis, boating, bowling etc. The swimming pool area is like no other, flumes and rapids but not in the usual tacky way. We hired bikes for the week and cycled along proper cycle paths all traffic free to a lovely little town which had was nice for a wander round and had enough shops to keep the tweenie happy. Also in Amsterdam they have a park & ride system but it is on a metro train rather than a bus which takes you straight into Centraal Station. Plenty of shops again in Amsterdam and culture and coffee shops!

Nothing constructive to say but I am very jealous of a DH/DP who likes foodie treats and coffee shops .

We have similar issues regarding holiday choices (best solution is when DH takes DS off on their own - leaves me in peace ).

cruise?

Is there any way you could take one of her friends?

My parents used to let me take a friend on holiday and it was good fun.

I would say a cruise. Especially one that had kids clubs for teenagers like P&O or Royal Caribbean.

I am a single parent with a 11 and 13 year old. I am quite happy lazying round a pool but the kids would be bored by this after 2 days. A cruise is great as they can make new friends, they have a lot of freedom within the ship and parents can also do their own thing. Most cruise ships stop off at a port nearly every day so there is a lot of time on land if you want.

Canal Boat? We did one through the Camargue one year - no locks - as far as Beziers. The scenery changes every day - You start off in the countryside - flamingoes, horses, no people for miles, then you hit Aigues Morts which an old walled town and one of France;s top tourist attraction.

After a couple of days you reach the seaside and resorts like Le Grau de Roi and Palavas Les Flot. We also did a detour up the River Lez to Lattes and went into Montpellier on the bus. You then cross the Etang de Thau and the Oyster Beds. Lovely restaurants in places like Meze and Marseillan. Then back on the Canal du Midi to Vias Plage - with a fun fair and lovely beach (which is where we are going this year, incidentally.)

It's not cheap but you can fly to Nimes or Beziers and you obviously don't need a car whilst you are there. You can hire bikes for cycling along the tow bath or doing trips to the village for bread etc. Take a friend for dd and you can probably let them have a certain amount of freedom whilst you lounge around and drink the local Cotes du Rhone.

We went with www.crownblueline.co.uk/suggested_cruises.html?region=ca&route_id=45 crown Blue Lines]] but there are a few different companies doing different start and end points. We have also done the Canal du Midi from the other direction, passing Carcassonne but there are loads of locks on that stretch so lots of hanging around getting drunk.

On Friday I'm going on hol with my dp, dd1 (13), her friend & my 2yo dd for a week (Scottish Easter holidays). We are taking her friend as the last holiday we had was a disaster. We're going to a Hoseasons Park in the New Forest (Oakdene) which seems to have loads to do onsite and round about and plenty for the kids...

Also near Dp's family, so hopefully he'll take the wee one to visit, the big kids will go off swimming/biking etc and I'll sit in the hot tub reading a book having a much needed rest. Best laid plans, I fear

I am doing a week's family activity holiday on Loch Tay (mostly watersports) with DSs 1 & 2 (9 and 11) and DNeice (14).

There are tutors with everything and you don't have to accompany your DCs on an activity. Paradoxically, last year I had to stay indoors one morning when DS2 decided he wanted to laze around ...

And there are lots of other kids around, of varying ages, and challenge activities in the evenings for them. And someone else does all the cooking.

How about Jersey?

Wow thanks for all those suggestions! I've broached the subject of taking a friend but dd doesn't feel there's anyone she'd like to spend a full week 24/7 with. she went on holiday once for 3 days with a friend and they fell out on Day 1 :)